The effect of lumbar-pelvic alignment and abdominal muscle thickness on primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify effects of malalignment of the lumbar pelvis, as a passive element, and the thicknesses of abdominal muscles, as active elements, on primary dysmenorrhea. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were divided into a primary dysmenorrhea group and normal group according to Visual Analogue Scale, and ultimately there were 28 subjects in the dysmenorrhea group and 22 subjects in the normal group. Alignment of the lumbar pelvis was measured by using a Formetric 4D analysis system, and the thicknesses of abdominal muscles were measured by using ultrasound imaging. [Result] Scoliosis was 6.7 ± 4.3° in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 3.8 ± 2.0° in the normal group, and the lordotic angles of the two groups were 0.6 ± 0.5° and 0.1 ± 0.3°, respectively. The thickness of the internal oblique was 3.8 ± 1.3 mm in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 6.0 ± 1.9 mm in the thicknesses of the transverse abdominis in the two groups were 2.6 ± 6.8 mm and 3.5 ± 6.1 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the thickness of the normal group, and the external oblique was 4.0 ± 0.8 mm in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 5.4 ± 1.4 mm in the normal group. [Conclusion] This study showed significant differences between the primary dysmenorrhea group and the normal group in lumbar-pelvic alignment and thicknesses of abdominal muscles.

Ultrasound Assessment of the Abdominal Wall Muscles in Women with and without Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Current literature research about the relationship between pain and musculoskeletal disorders in patients with pelvic floor disorders, such PD. For example, in the study performed by Kim et al [26] the basal level of pain was 8 mm/10 in the VAS scale for both groups. Thus, one hypothesis could be that in patients with any level of pain, it would be more likely to find a thickness difference in abdominal muscles and that would be the reason of the discrepancy of the results, which would lead us to reflect on the role of nociceptive processing in skeletal imbalances and PD [27].…”

“…The results did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups in the thickness of TrAb, IO, EO and RA nor the IRD. However, the study conducted by Kim et al [26] about the effects of lumbopelvic alignment and the thickness of the abdominal musculature in subjects with PD found differences between the PD group and the control group, reporting a decrease in the thickness of the TrAb and the IO for women with PD. In addition, the authors explained that disturbances in the muscular system resulting in instability may cause PD.…”

Biomechanical changes in women with chronic pelvic pain: a case-control study

“…Elbesh et al, Biomechanical changes in chronic pelvic pain [5,6], and extended impairments in biomechanical alignment might contribute significantly to pain maintenance [6]. Kim et al [7] supposed that the pelvis and spine alignments caused structural and functional changes of the body; including the uterus, this could in turn increase cyclic CPP. However, few studies have determined the relationship between cyclic CPP and the pelvic biomechanics [5][6][7].…”

“…Kim et al [7] supposed that the pelvis and spine alignments caused structural and functional changes of the body; including the uterus, this could in turn increase cyclic CPP. However, few studies have determined the relationship between cyclic CPP and the pelvic biomechanics [5][6][7]. Furthermore, not so many studies have compared noncyclic and cyclic CPP.…”

Características sociodemográficas e avaliação da dor através do questionário de McGill em mulheres com dismenorreia primária submetidas à auriculoterapia

“…As sintomatologias frequentes que acompanham a dismenorreia são as dores lombares, náuseas, vômitos e diarreia, que resultam negativamente na qualidade de vida e favorece na ausência de curto prazo na escola ou no trabalho de acordo com o nível de gravidade 7,8 . Atualmente a diversos tratamentos para da dismenorreia, tanto por meios farmacológicos através do uso de anti-inflamatórios não esteroides (AINEs), como não farmacológicos 11 .…”